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A multiscale fractal transport model with multilayer sorption and effective porosity effects

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 03:04 authored by Wang, JG, Hu, B, Wu, D, Dou, F, Xiaolin WangXiaolin Wang
In order to study gas transport properties of fractured shale gas reservoirs for the accurate estimation of shale gas production, a new multiscale fractal transport model with an effective porosity model was proposed based on the fractal theory and the multilayer fractal Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) adsorption. In shale matrix, both fractal microstructures of pores (such as pore size distribution, flow path tortuosity, and pore surface roughness) and multiscale flow mechanisms (including slip flow and Knudsen diffusion) were coupled. In fracture network, fractal fracture length distribution, stress compaction, and gas pressure were introduced to formulate a new fracture permeability model. These permeability and effective porosity models were then incorporated into the governing equations of gas flow and the deformation equation of reservoirs to form a numerical model. This numerical model was solved within COMSOL Multiphysics for shale gas recovery. Both transport models in shalematrix and fracture network were validated by experimental data or compared with other models. Finally, sensitivity analysiswas conducted to identify key parameters to gas recovery enhancement. Itwas found that themultilayer gas adsorption and fractal microstructures have great impacts on gas production in shale reservoirs. The cumulative gas production can be increased by 26% after 8000 days when themultilayer adsorbed gas is considered. Larger surface fractal dimension and larger tortuosity fractal dimension represent more roughness pore surface, higher flow resistance, and lower cumulative gas production. Bigger pore diameter fractal dimension means more pores, higher permeability, and higher cumulative gas production. Our model with fractal FHH adsorption was in better agreements with field data from Marcellus and Barnett shale reservoirs than other models.

History

Publication title

Transport in Porous Media

Volume

129

Pagination

25-51

ISSN

0169-3913

Department/School

School of Engineering

Publisher

Kluwer Academic Publ

Place of publication

Van Godewijckstraat 30, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 3311 Gz

Rights statement

Copyright 2019 Springer Nature B.V.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Oil and gas exploration

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